Centre to move SC over entry of foreign law firms

The Deccan Herald has reported on the Government planning to file a petition seeking transfer of the case relating to entry of foreign law firms in the country, pending before the Madras High Court, to the Supreme Court.

Law Minister Veerappa Moily said, “The Bombay High Court has rejected the entry of foreign law firms in the country. The matter is now before the Madras High Court. We plan to move a petition to transfer the matter to the Supreme Court so that a broader perspective could be obtained."

He said it would help the government take a "final decision" on the matter.
To a question, he said while government has not taken a view on the subject yet, the application would be moved as the Centre was a party to the litigation.

The Indian legal fraternity led by the Bar Council of India is opposed to entry of foreign law firms, fearing that they would not be able to compete with their foreign counterparts. Recognising these concerns, Moily said these would be addressed before a decision is taken. 

States opposing all India exams for judges 

The Hindustan Times has reported on how the ambitious plan of the Centre to recruit 25 per cent of district judges in the country through an all-India exam on the lines of civil services has hit a roadblock with many state governments and High Courts opposing the proposal. 

“The issue of All-India Judicial Service (AIJS) came up for discussions. But there was no unanimity as the various states and their high courts have their own views". The Department of Justice in the Law Ministry will prepare a consultation paper for larger consultations to be able to evolve a consensus on the issue,” Moily told reporters.

Supreme Court accepts Ahmadi's resignation from Bhopal Hospital Trust

News channel NDTV has reported on The Supreme Court’s acceptance of the resignation of former Chief Justice of India A.M. Ahmadi as the Chairman of the Bhopal Memorial Hospital Trust (BMHT) and allowed the Centre to take over its management.

Justice Ahmadi, who was part of the SC benches that had taken decisions on the Bhopal gas tragedy case, including the dilution of harsher penal charges in 1996, had written to the then CJI K G Balakrishnan seeking to be relieved from the chairmanship of the BMHT.